Restaurants, Bars and Cafés Beauty & Health Points of Interest

One of the greatest things about living in Tokyo is that the world is, literally, at your fingertips--especially at the dinner table. In the land where culinary excursions are practically a national hobby, good food is plentiful; you just have to know where to look. Here are some of our recommendations to add to your favorites.

Bengal (ベンガル) Indian curry Authentic Indian curry, most dishes served with a large plate of rice and a curry gravy boat. Over 20 spices blended by a former spice-girl; that is, the owner used to work for a spice company. This secret-recipe curry powder is available for purchase at the store. Recommended: to soothe that spicy roux, try the masala tea, a zesty cup of Indian comfort. To-go curry and naan available. Beef curry from ￥880. Menu in English and Japanese. 3-10-12 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku 03-3255-4410 Station: Suehirocho (metro exit 3) more information...

Bon (梵) Fucha (Japanese Fucha ryori（普茶料理） is the all-vegetarian cuisine that Zen Buddhist monks of China and Japan have been eating for centuries. Dishes are beautifully presented, often with half a dozen morsels of seasonal roots, leaves, fruits and flowers decorating one plate. You'll forget that there is no meat involved. Recommended: last orders are taken early, so get in accordingly. Dinner from around ￥7,350. “Fucha Bento” special lunch from ￥3,990. Menu in English and Japanese. 1-2-11 Ryusen, Taito-ku 03-3872-0375 Station: Iriya (metro exit 3) more information...

Habutae Honten (羽二重団子本店) Japanese cafe Housed in an old-fashioned building with a beautiful enclosed Japanese garden viewable from the main caf_ room. The rice cakes are made every morning and many claim the yakidango (焼き団子, lightly grilled with a soy-based sauce) here are the best in Tokyo. There is also a newer branch with the same name closer to the station, with a patisserie-like interior (“Habutae 日暮里駅前”, or Habutate Nippori Ekimae, at 03-5850-3451) . One skewer from ￥200. Menu in Japanese. 5-54-3 Higashi-Nippori, Arakawa-ku 03-3891-2924 Station: Nippori (JR south exit) more information...

Hard Rock Café Ueno-Eki (ハードロックカフェ　上野駅店) American "Love All Serve All" is the motto of this haven for music lovers around the world. On the menu: American goodness like burgers and sandwiches, starters, pasta and salad. As with all other Hard Rocks, the walls are filled with pictures and gold disks of your favorite rock n' roll legends. Original Tokyo merchandise available. Dinner from about ￥2,500, plus a 10% service charge after 16:00. Menu in English and Japanese. Atre Ueno 1F, 7-1-1 Ueno, Taito-ku 03-5826-5821 Station: Ueno (JR, metro) more information...

Khroopkhrua Thai, Vietnamese The owner-chef loves Southeast Asia wholeheartedly, which he recreates in this part of the world by importing fresh herbs and spices twice a week by air. Recommended: the Thai-style sukiyaki serves up a healthy dose of vegetables and seafood for ￥2,100. Dinner from about ￥3,000. Menu in English and Japanese. Saito Bldg. 2F, 1-33-4 Asakusa, Taito-ku 03-3847-3461 Station: Asakusa (metro exit 1; Tobu line Matsuya exit) more information...

Otafuku (大多福) oden (Japanese) Oden is winter comfort food of various fish and vegetable dumplings in a fish or kelp broth. Western Japan tends to have a stronger, saltier flavor than eastern Japan's version, and some foodies consider the less in-your-face western, or Kansai, version to be the better one. As you can probably guess, Otafuku serves the Kansai kind in a relaxed, shitamachi (downtown) atmosphere. Over 40 types of dumplings, including Kansai specialties like yuba (soymilk skin) and whale. Dinner from around ￥4,000. Menu in Japanese. To reserve a seat, you must specify either a oden-only course (￥3,500) or a full dinner course (￥5,250). 1-6-2 Chizuka, Taito-ku 03-3871-2521 Station: Asakusa (metro exit A2, about a 15-minute walk) more information...

Sasa No Yuki (笹乃雪) tofu (Japanese) Silky tofu manifests itself in countless ways. The restaurant has been in operation for over 300 years, and is reportedly the first to have sold kinugoshidofu (絹ごし豆腐, silky tofu) in Edo, or Old Tokyo. Using fresh spring water, the kitchen crew makes the day's tofu supply every morning. Dinner from around ￥3,700. Menu in English and Japanese. 2-15-10 Negishi, Taito-ku 03-3873-1145 Station: Uguisudani (JR north exit) more information...

Hinaya (日南屋) Udon Restaurant Finding authentic udon noodles in Tokyo can be difficult, but here's one place that's sure to satisfy your urges. Located in a little cul-de-sac in Akasaka, Hinaya is known to both the businessmen of the area, and to foreigners seeking an authentic udon meal. The speciality here is Shikoku style, and everyone who eats here recommends the curry udon. The noodles are vegan, made from flour, salt and water. A dinner course can be had for just under ¥4000. Menu in English and Japanese, and the owner speaks fluent English. Minato-ku, Akasaka 2-14-7 03-3583-0178 Station: Akasaka station (metro exit 2) 3 min Tameike Sanno more information...

57 (フィフティーセブン) Fusion Just a few minutes from Roppongi station, Fifty Seven offers a sumptuous atmosphere miles from the busy streets. The minute you walk down the stairs and are greeted at the door, you know that you're in a classy joint. The chef, Fumio Yonezawa, started his career at Il Boccalone after which he went to to work at some of the finest restaurants in New York. The name 57 comes from 57th street in New York, where East and West meet, and the original idea was to make a place which combines the best intersection of New York and Tokyo. The decor is stunning, with soft mood lighting and little hidden away rooms to enjoy a quiet drink. Cocktails, couches and candles, everything here whispers elegance. B1F 4-2-35 Roppongi, Minato-ku 03-5775-7857 Station: Roppongi (Hibiya line, Oedo Line exit 6) more information...

Ivan Ramen (アイバンラーメン) Ramen Ivan Ramen is a small corner ramen eatery in Rokakoen, 15 minutes from Shinjuku on the local line. Ivan is the owner, the chef, the founder and the operations manager at this ramen-ya, and he's serving up authentic Japanese ramen, which the Japanese are just eating up. Whether it be duck confit or homemade ramen noodles, it’s easy to imagine Ivan making it with the same intensity. 3-24-7 Minamikarasuyama Setagaya-ku 03-6750-5540 Station: Rokakouen Station (JR Keio Honsen Line North Exit) 2 min walk more information...